Ageratum plant named &#39;Agapel&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Ageratum  plant, characterised particularly as to novelty by its near white, large flower, early flowering, freely branched plant habit and vigorous growth.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Ageratum houstonianum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Agapel’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Ageratum,botanically known as Ageratum houstonianum. The new cultivar ispropagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘V84-1’ as femaleparent and ‘U43-1’ as male parent. This cross was made in October 2000.‘V84-1’ is commercially available and is known as ‘Agrosamtis’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 15,631). ‘U43-1’ is not commercially available and hasnot been patented.

As a result of this cross, the present cultivar was selected in August2001 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexuallyreproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in Gilroy, Calif., andin Sarrians, France over a three-year period. The distinctivecharacteristics of this new Ageratum are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction. It takes 8 to 10weeks to produce a finished plant, depending on the temperature.

This new Ageratum plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Agapel’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Agapel’ as a new and distinct Ageratumcultivar:

-   -   1. Vigorous, upright and mounded growth habit    -   2. Freely branching habit    -   3. Freely flowering habit with many capitula in compound umbels    -   4. Near white capitula on green colored leaves

Plants of the new Ageratum differ primarily from the plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Ageratum have near white colored capitula whereasplants of the female parent selection have light purple capitula. Plantsof the new Ageratum have a vigorous habit with large leaves, whereas theplants of the female parent are compact with small leaves.

Plants of the new Ageratum differ primarily from the male plantselection in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Ageratum have near white colored capitula whereas theplants of the male parent selection have white and light violetcapitula. Plants of the new Ageratum have a strongly branched habit,where the plants of the male have a less branching habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Ageratum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Ageratum. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 20 weeks oldplants, blossomed under natural light in the field.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to The RHS Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London. TABLE 1 Differences between the newcultivar ‘Agapel’ and similar cultivars ‘Agetis’ (U.S. Plant ‘Agalib’(Not ‘Agapel’ Patent No. 15,627) patented) Flower color Near whiteViolet blue Light violet blue Size of capitulum 16-22 mm 16-21 mm 16-22mm Plant height 20-25 cm 20-25 cm 20-27 cm Diameter of plant 32-40 cm35-40 cm 32-48 cm

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification — botanical.—Ageratum houstonianum.        -   Parentage — female parent.—Proprietary Ageratum houstonianum            selection identified as code number ‘V84-1’ ‘Agrosamtis’ —            Pollen parent Proprietary Ageratum houstonianum selection            identified as code number ‘U43-1,’ not patented.        -   Growth habit.—Ascending, well branched.        -   Plant height.—20-25 cm.        -   Spreading area of plant.—32-40 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.        -   Strength.—Very good.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node.        -   Blooming period.—Year round.-   The stem:    -   -   Stem length.—5-20 cm.        -   Diameter.—3-7 mm.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Color.—RHS 143C.        -   Anthocyan pigmentation.—A little bit on upper stems.        -   Length of internode.—15-80 mm, depending on the light where            the plant is propagated.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.-   The foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite, decussate and alternate.        -   Shape of blade.—Cordate.        -   Texture — upper side.—Slightly pubescent — Lower side:            Slightly pubescent.        -   Venation.—Reticulate.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaf base.—Subcordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—20-25 mm.        -   Width.—25-55 mm.        -   Colour — Upper side.—Dark green RHS 137B — Lower side:            Medium green RHS 146A.        -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.        -   Length of petiole.—8-12 mm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—1-2.5 mm.        -   Color of petiole.—RHS 146C.        -   Petiole surface texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Compound umbel of capitula.        -   Number of inflorescence per plant.—55-80.        -   Umbel size.—2.5-4.5 cm.        -   Umbel depth.—1.5-2.5 cm.        -   Length of peduncle.—1.5-35 mm.        -   Diameter of peduncle.—1.5-3 mm.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 138A.        -   Length of pedicel.—1.2-20 mm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.5-2 mm.        -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 138B.        -   Number of capitula per inflorescence.—10-15.        -   Number of disc florets per capitulum.—50-85.        -   Capitulum in bud stage.—Round, flat capitulum, showing            unopened florets from the start.        -   Number of ray florets.—0.        -   Shape of the corolla of the disk floret.—Actinomorph.        -   Number of lobes.—5.        -   Length of disk floret.—3-5 mm.        -   Diameter of disk floret.—0.5-1 mm.        -   Color of disk floret upper side.—RHS 69D with tip 69C.        -   Color of disk floret lower side.—RHS 142C.        -   Number of phyllaries per capitulum.—25-35.        -   Length of phyllaries.—4-6 mm.        -   Diameter of phyllaries.—0.5-1 mm.        -   Color of phyllaries. — Upper side: RHS 143A with tip RHS 77B            — Inner side: RHS 138A with tip RHS 77B.        -   Diameter of capitulum at beginning of flowering.—7-11 mm.        -   Depth of capitulum.—4-6 mm.        -   Color of capitulum at beginning of flowering.—RHS 76A.        -   Diameter of capitulum at full flowering.—16-22 mm.        -   Color of capitulum at full flowering.—RHS N155B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Number of pistels.—1.        -   Shape of pistils.—Style with two filiform branches.        -   Length of stigma and style.—7-9 mm.        -   Color of stigma.—RHS 76B and RHS N155B.        -   Inferior ovary.—5 ribbed.        -   Pappus.—Short.        -   Number of anthers.—5, connate in a tube, filaments free        -   Shape of anthers.—Ecalcarate.        -   Pollen.—A little pollen is present.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS N155B.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Lastingness of the bloom.—The capitula of one umbel open            over a period of 3 to 4 weeks.-   Seedset: No seedset-   Roots    -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous. Roots start to grow on every part of            the stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the nodes.-   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat    and cold, but no frost tolerance. Strong resistance to pests and    diseases.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ageratum houstonianum plant named‘Agapel,’ as substantially illustrated and described herein.